Heritage Gallery Class of 2009

SPOKANE, Wash. -- On September 26th Whitworth
University will induct former football All-American Wayne Ralph,
track and field coach Arnie Tyler, Sr., and track All-American
Kristin (Shields) Hinton as the 20th class into the Whitworth
Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take
place at the Whitworth Hixon Union Building’s multi-purpose
room, beginning at 8:30 am.

Two-time All-American Wayne Ralph had the two
most prolific pass receiving seasons in Northwest small college
history. As a junior in 1985, Ralph caught 101 passes for 1,111
yards and seven touchdowns, setting NAIA records for total passes
caught in a season and receptions per game (11.2). He was named a
First Team NAIA All-American and a Kodak Division II First Team
All-American. The following season Ralph broke his own records with
105 receptions, 11.7 per game, for 1,204 yards. He set school
records at the time with 20 receptions for 219 yards in the season
opener at Willamette. He was named First Team All-American for the
second straight season. His 248 career receptions remain a
Northwest small college record. He finished his career with 248
catches, 2,793 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. Nobody in
Whitworth history has come close to his 17 career 100-yard
receiving games. Following his Whitworth career Ralph was offered a
contract by the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League,
but instead chose to join the military where he had a distinguished
and highly decorated 10-year career. Following his time in the
military, Ralph has worked as an educator and coach at the
secondary level.

Kristen (Shields) Hinton exemplified Whitworth
University’s highest standards, both in the pursuit of
athletics and academics. She graduated in 2004 as an NCAA champion
in the 100-meter dash and with the President’s Cup after
finishing her academic career with a perfect 4.0 grade point
average. Over the course of her four seasons at Whitworth, Shields
won the Northwest Conference 100 meters three times and anchored
the 400 relay to victory in each of her four seasons. As a senior
she was the conference’s Women’s Athlete of the Meet
after sweeping the 100 and 200 meters and leading the 400 relay to
its fourth straight conference title. Shields earned her first NCAA
Division III All-American finish as a junior in 2003 with a fourth
place finish in the 100. The following season she was national
champion in that event, while also earning All-American honors in
the 200. Her time of 11.81 in the 100 led the nation that season
and she also posted a wind-aided 11.70. Following her senior
season, Shields first was named the College Division Track and
Field / Cross Country Academic All-American of the Year by the
College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Later she
was selected as the College Division Academic All-American of the
Year for all sports. She has gone on to a successful career
teaching high school math.

Arnie Tyler might have done more with less than
any coach in Whitworth history. As the men’s track and field
coach from 1976 through 1981, and both the men’s and
women’s coach from 1982 through 1991, he led four Whitworth
student-athletes to individual NAIA national championships and
coached 25 All-America performances - all without the benefit of an
on-campus track. Doug Larson won the NAIA decathlon in 1981, Tommy
Stewart was the national triple jump champion in 1983, Barb
Lashinski won the javelin in 1987, and Nathan Whelham also won the
javelin in 1990. Other multiple-time All-Americans included Kari
Jacobson in the heptathlon and the 400 hurdles; Tim Jacobson in the
hammer and discus; Arnie Tyler, Jr. in the hammer and Jeff Rahn,
who still holds Whitworth’s record in the 1,500 meters. At
the time of his Whitworth retirement, every women’s track and
field record at Whitworth was held by an athlete he coached. He
went on to assist with the highly-successful Mead High School team
until moving to Yakima in 2000, where he continues to help coach at
the high school level.

The class of 2009 will join a group of 64
individuals and seven teams already enshrined in the Heritage
Gallery. The class of 2009, along with all current Heritage Gallery
members attending the induction, will be recognized at halftime of
the Whitworth - Chapman football game on September 26th.

The Whitworth Heritage Gallery Hall of Fame is
sponsored by the Crimson Club and the first class was inducted in
1990.

Reservations for the induction ceremony
and breakfast can still be made by calling 777-3224.